In the 1967 movie starring Paul Newman has a Southern prison-farm inmate given to fancies of flight, the heat was applied by a buxom blonde who looked as though she might have attended the Jeter Lester Finishing School on "Tobacco Road." She squished her soapy attributes against a driver's-side automobile window while a male chain gang nearby stared open-mouthed.

The friends' goal: Earn money toward the $800 that Barnard needs to attend a modeling camp Aug. 11-14 in New York City.

In the first hour, the trio had washed 10 vehicles, bringing Barnard 50 bucks closer to taking a bite out of The Big Apple.

They're just getting started.

"We were thinking about doing a few more, maybe," Barnard said. "Maybe go to Grand Haven, and maybe even to Grand Rapids."

Not however, without a little constructive criticism.

As the young women worked to put the sparkle back onto a white Jaguar, Carroll corrected Barnard's technique.

To do it right, Carroll said, "You've got to go over it with a sponge. You can't get paid not to wash someone's car."

Barnard got permission to use Rite Aid's lot, water faucet and hose the previous Monday. Any money she and her pals might make, she said, would complement what she earns working at Pablo's Tacos, where Spring is a fellow employee. Barnard and Carroll grew up together.

Why earn money this way?

Duh.

"It's summer!" said Carroll.

And not a bad way to cool off. Spring sprayed Carroll with water, to which Carroll cooed, "That felt good."

It'll feel even better if Barnard, Carroll and Spring finally come up with the 800 smackers.

"I work, too," said Barnard, "but I've also got a car payment and stuff, so I've got to do this in my spare time."